Can flattener



o 1952 G. w. CQFFEY 2,614,604

CAN FLATTENER Filed Oct. 28, 1950 I 2 SI-lEETS-Sl-IEET 2 62 2a (bf/9% @a MQ ATTD RNEYS little space. V

Patented Oct. 21, 195 2 CAN FLATTEN'ER v Guy W. Cofiey, Florence, Ky. v Application September 28, 1950, Serial N 0. 187,202

"This invention relates to can flattening tools and machines, and in particular a manually actuated can flattening device having a manually actuated: lever pivotally mounted at one side of a'crushing table with cutting means for removing the ends of the can whereby, with the ends removed','the cans are placed upon the tableand flattened,.or crushed by the lever.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for flattening cans to facilitate disposal of cans particularly as used as containers for various types of products. In'the conventional type of can in which numerous types of household products are provided and which also are used for paints, oils or other products, it is difficult to dispose of the can Land where cans are buried or sold asjunk it is desirable to flatten the cans. In crushing or flattening cans it has been found that with the heads or ends removed the cylindrical body of the cannot only flattens more readily but occupies comparatively smaller space when flattened. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a can flattening machine including means for first. removing the ends from the cans and then means for crushing or flattening the body of the can whereby the final product occupies comparatively The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a can flattening tool in which an operator may first remove the ends from the can and then,

remaining in substantially the same position, flatten the body of the can. l v

Another object of the invention is to provide a can flattening device that may be used for cans of different sizes. 7 A further object of the invention. is to provide a can flattening'machine which is of a comparatively simple and economical construction.

With theseand other objects and advantages ally mounted on a base with a flattening table carried by the turntable, a lever pivotally mounted 3 at the upper end of the flattening table and positioned to crush objects on the flattening table,

a knife carried by the turntable and positioned on the opposite side of the pivotal mounting of the lever and a block carried by the lever for forcing cans over the knife.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the can flattening tool.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the tool inview the invention embodies a turntable pivot- 5 Claims. (01. 153-405) looking toward the knife for removing ends'from the can.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the tool. Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-l of Figure 3 showing the can crushing tool with the manually actuated lever illustrated in.

the position of removing ends from the can on one side and in the position for crushing a can onthe opposite side in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan part of the can flattening tool showing thecircular knife and flattening table in section. Figure 6 is a cross section taken on of Figure 4 showing the manually actuated lever. with the can forcing block onone side thereof.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved can flattening tool of this invention includes a turntable l0 pivotally mounted by a I2 with a flattening table 13 lik 0 pin II on a base carried by the turntable, a circular cutter carried by the turntable andag hand leverl5 pivotally mounted by a hinge 16 on the flattening table and having a block I! with a sloping face I8 mounted on one side and positioned to coact with the cutter M for removing ends from cans,

and in which the sloping face [8 1 :arovidesmeans for compensating for-can of different heights.

The turntable I!) is formed of a substantially; flat panel and the lower surfacether'eofis -spaced from the upper surface of thebase I2 by a spacing washer IS. The pin I I extends upwardly through" the base [2, and the washer l9 and through an Iii. As illustratedin opening 20 in the turntable v Figure 4 the pin H is provided with a head 2| that is positioned ina recess 22 in the under surface of the base l2.

The circular cutter I4 is provided with a beveled. upper outting edge 23*and a slot 24 is provided atone side so that the entire end is not cut from I the can. This provides a hinge whereby, the end,

may be bent into the can so that the cans maybe folded with the ends on the inside thereon The cutter I4 is mounted upon a panel 25. and the:

panel is mounted on the turntable Ill by pins 26, and 21 which provide means for readilyremoving the cutter so that cutters of different sizes may be used to accommodate cans of different diameters.

The cutter I4 will cut ends of cans within the average range of sizes however for comparatively small cans and also for comparatively large cans it is desirable to use small or large cutters :0 correspond with the size of the can being fiatened.

through the lower.

line 6-56 The lever I5 is provided with the block 11 and with the face of the block inclined cans of different lengths may be cut as the can may be ripped at different points along the face l8 of the block.

The hand lever l 5 is hinged to the base or flattening table structure by the hinge I6, one plate, 28 of which is positioned between the rear wall 29 of the flattening table and an upright panel 30 of the: turntable whereby the hingeisrigidly held, and'the upper plate of the hinge which is indicated by the numeral 3| is secured to the lever l5, by welding or other suitable means.

With the parts arranged in this manner the can, as indicated by the dotted line 32 is first positioned upon the cutter l4 and hydra-wing the lever l5 downwardly theblock |1-forces the can over the cutter substantially removing one end. The inclination of the sloping face lii'wil'l' raise the extreme lower portions of the lever during the cutting operations, so that the lever I 5 will not strike the support for the base of the de--- vice when the device isacting. on cans of small height. Thepositiorp of the can is then reversed and the operation repeatedwhereby the opposite endiof the: can. iST substantially removed. The

ends "are folded into the canf and. the can placed in the positionshown in: Fig; 41' wherebydownlward movement of the levenflattens the can againstthe' table -I 31 It willl be understood; that-the tool may be provided with cutters of different sizes. and dif-- ferent 'sizes 'of tool'smay'be: provided for different types ofcansa- Itwillal'so be understood that the position of the hinge may be adjusted: in relation to" thebase" to compensate for 1 extra'larget or smallencans;

It will" be understood that 1 modifications may be made in: the design and arrangement'of the parts without-departing from the spirit of" the invention;

What is -claimed is z t I! can flattening tool comprising a base, a:

can end'r'emoving' cutter'carried. by the base, a vertically disposed panel on said base adjacent said' cutter, a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end" ofthe panel and positioned to be pivoted'downwardly'in one'direction to coact with the end' removing cutter for urgingthe end of the-can against th'e cutter, and a" flattening table abutting said panel on thesideop'posite to the cutterand positioned to'coact with the lever when it is moved downwardly in the opposite direction for flattening the bodies-oi the cans;

-2.-A can flattening tool comprising a base, a; can-end removing cutter carried by the base; a

vertically disposed panel on said base adjacent said" cutter, a; lever pivotally -mounted' on" the uppe'r'end 'of'the' paneland positioned to be pivo'ted"downwardlyinone direction to. ecaet with the end removing cutter for urging the end or the can against: the cutter; I a flattening: table abutting 'said panel "on the: side oppositeto the euttei 'axid p'ositionedito ooact with-the lever when.

it is moved downwardly in the opposite direction for flattening the bodies of the cans, and supporting means upon which the base is pivotally mounted.

3. A can flattening tool comprising a base, a can end removing cutter carried by the base, a vertically disposed panel on said base adjacent said cutter, a lever pivotally mounted on the upper end of the panel and positioned to be pivot'eddownwardly in one directionito coact with the end removing'cutter forurgingthe end of the can against the cutter, a block having a sloping surface mounted on the said lever and positioned to" engage the cans, and a flattening table abutting said panel on the side opposite to the cutter andpositioned to coact with the lever when it; is moved downwardly in the opposite direction for flattening'the bodies of the cans.

4-; In a can flattening, machine, the combination which comprises a base, a turntable having a flattening table-thereon pivotally mounted. on the tbasd a lever hinged to one'side ofthe flattening table" and positioned to' coactwith' the: upper surface of: the flatteningtable for flattening cans"- positioned upon: the said table; a circular cutter having-ra sloping; cutting; surface carried :by said turntable: and-positioned on the opposite' side of the hinge whereby the lever may be actuated-to force: cans. against the. knife for removing the endsqfromfithea cans; and. means on: the lever compensating: forscansiof 'different'heights: when: the cans are in position.to?'beaforcedizagainststhev knife .so thatthe lever will not strikeithe support forrthe saidbase when: thelever is acting 011 0221187 of sm'all-height;

521Ina can flattening machine, the combine tion which comprises: a base; a turntable having" a iia'ttenin'g table. thereon: pivotally mounted on the b'ase; a lever hinged" to one sideof the flatten mg -table andfpositionedto 'eoa'ct with 'the upper" surface "(if tlie-fiatteningtable fOl flattening cans" positionedupon the said table, a circul'ar cutter" having: a sloping cutting:surface-carried by said turntable and positioned on the -oppositeside of" the hinge whereby the lever may be actuated' to force cans against the knife forcutting the ends in the cans; means on the lever compensating fcr" cans of different heights when the cans are in position to be forced against the-knife so that the lever will notstri-ke the support for the said ba'se when the lever is-acting o'n- 'cans ofsmall height, andmeans remova'bly mounting the end remov ing cutter on the turntable' whereby cutters of" Number Name Date" v Apprilm minis Oct. 31;,- 1939'} 2,466,907 Nadolny et"al.- Apr. 12,1949, 

